Best Cities for New Graduates

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by Amy Orr

Every year, a new batch of college graduates dust off their suits, write their resumes and prepare to enter the workforce. But the decision of how and where to do this can impact the course of a career and a life. What city has the best employment opportunities? Where will be fun to live? What can I afford?

The burden of student debt has never been higher and the number of students in college is increasing -- enrollment increased by 20% between 2003 and 2013 according to the National Center for Education Statistics -- whilst the number of graduate jobs is, at best, stagnant. The 2015 employment rate, whilst higher than previous years, is still lower than pre-recession rates according to the NCES.

Making the most of that hard-earned and expensive degree has never been more difficult and choosing a city to live and work in may be one of the most impactful decisions a graduate can make, especially as technology and transport grow and the need to live in one’s hometown or near parents lessens. Below, we have analyzed the best -- and worst -- cities for graduates for employment, affordability and lifestyle, in an attempt to make this important decision a little easier.

The Best Cities for New Grads

In our quest to find the best cities for graduates, we looked at factors relating to employment, such as job opportunities, employment rates, remuneration and employee benefits, as well as the affordability of the city and lifestyle factors such as transport, entertainment and demographics. A full list of all the factors considered can be found below. We ranked each factor from the most important to the least, and combined the results to give a final ranking of all the cities in the study.

Madison, WI

For Lifestyle: 7

For Jobs: 13

For Affordability: 334

Fargo, ND

For Lifestyle: 41

For Jobs: 6

For Affordability: 207

Burlington-South Burlington, VT

For Lifestyle: 2

For Jobs: 48

For Affordability: 325

Bloomington, IL

For Lifestyle: 41

For Jobs: 4

For Affordability: 242

Logan, UT

For Lifestyle: 20

For Jobs: 52

For Affordability: 154

The Rest of the Best

The five above were tops, but 377 other cities were under consideration. Where did yours rank?

Overall Ranking

City

Lifestyle Ranking

Jobs Ranking

Affordability Ranking

1

Madison, WI

7

13

334

2

Fargo, ND

41

6

207

3

Burlington-South Burlington, VT

2

48

325

4

Bloomington, IL

41

4

242

5

Logan, UT

20

52

154

6

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

24

23

230

7

Columbia, MO

12

17

316

8

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA

10

42

320

9

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY

62

25

171

10

La Crosse-Onalaska, WI

53

12

271

11

Iowa City, IA

4

5

380

12

Lawrence, KS

9

31

356

13

Boulder, CO

1

116

332

14

California-Lexington Park, MD

159

16

56

15

State College, PA

17

8

369

16

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

89

19

216

17

Ann Arbor, MI

8

27

368

18

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

84

55

101

19

Provo-Orem, UT

27

74

238

20

Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA

148

1

172

20

Urban Honolulu, HI

90

18

233

22

Mankato-North Mankato, MN

48

10

330

23

Lincoln, NE

34

62

248

24

Syracuse, NY

38

67

218

25

Ithaca, NY

5

22

379

26

Ames, IA

16

14

375

27

Lexington-Fayette, KY

23

108

220

28

Eau Claire, WI

94

36

190

29

Manhattan, KS

65

33

279

30

Fort Collins, CO

14

122

276

31

Sioux Falls, SD

105

21

255

32

Charlottesville, VA

6

102

360

33

Rochester, NY

36

65

291

33

Harrisonburg, VA

72

76

189

35

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

61

92

179

36

Grand Forks, ND

66

47

272

37

Rochester, MN

107

2

333

38

Oshkosh-Neenah, WI

178

3

164

39

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN

39

30

339

40

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA

84

34

261

41

Worcester, MA

95

40

248

42

Springfield, IL

110

63

170

43

Providence-Warwick, RI

35

77

299

44

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

57

115

167

45

Norwich-New London, CT

67

119

167

45

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI

122

58

151

47

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

54

77

270

48

Appleton, WI

155

9

239

49

Binghamton, NY

91

46

278

50

Elmira, NY

190

10

157

51

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA

30

159

224

52

Portland-South Portland, ME

31

72

350

53

Morgantown, WV

49

57

330

54

Cedar Rapids, IA

136

15

290

54

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA

45

156

198

56

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

22

151

285

57

St. Louis, MO

132

86

113

58

Trenton, NJ

26

131

293

59

Dubuque, IA

73

7

372

60

Pittsburgh, PA

97

45

296

60

Bismarck, ND

150

20

242

62

Lansing-East Lansing, MI

57

36

358

63

Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE

130

66

181

64

Corvallis, OR

19

90

361

65

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

138

35

234

66

Columbus, OH

99

43

309

67

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC

44

132

263

68

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

79

82

263

69

Peoria, IL

183

60

82

70

Cape Girardeau, MO

173

100

40

71

Ocean City, NJ

100

75

260

72

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

13

212

370

72

Champaign-Urbana, IL

28

53

288

74

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI

56

69

334

75

Midland, MI

167

53

132

76

Manchester-Nashua, NH

92

70

300

77

Bloomington, IN

46

56

366

78

Columbus, IN

227

39

66

79

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR

176

111

42

80

Napa, CA

117

137

126

81

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA

129

68

252

82

Bellingham, WA

15

181

327

82

Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI

108

177

104

84

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

59

160

245

85

St. Cloud, MN

69

24

372

85

Duluth, MN

82

28

363

87

Cincinnati, OH

126

49

294

88

Tallahassee, FL

40

236

194

89

Oklahoma City, OK

181

161

18

90

Springfield, MA

60

107

319

91

Ogden-Clearfield, UT

252

32

77

92

College Station-Bryan, TX

84

95

174

93

Kansas City, MO

169

104

87

94

Erie, PA

77

118

281

95

Lafayette, LA

222

194

2

96

Utica-Rome, NY

196

91

76

97

Austin-Round Rock, TX

33

195

296

98

Lynchburg, VA

112

130

221

99

Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA

118

166

148

100

Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC

154

151

69

101

Athens-Clarke County, GA

29

162

342

102

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY

11

244

337

103

Gainesville, FL

18

200

344

104

Salt Lake City, UT

105

128

258

105

Toledo, OH

142

80

252

106

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

25

211

322

107

Kingston, NY

55

187

280

108

Owensboro, KY

261

73

53

109

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA

37

158

334

110

Cleveland-Elyria, OH

120

106

269

111

Charleston, WV

237

155

9

112

Lubbock, TX

127

114

341

113

Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

88

97

338

114

Bremerton-Silverdale, WA

134

186

118

115

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA

164

85

202

116

Wheeling, WV

219

133

32

117

Akron, OH

133

26

364

118

Wichita, KS

215

136

39

119

Jefferson City, MO

269

93

33

120

Huntsville, AL

179

220

22

121

Billings, MT

147

105

227

122

Auburn-Opelika, AL

128

110

282

123

Muncie, IN

114

125

295

124

Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

145

221

80

125

Saginaw, MI

224

81

328

125

New Haven-Milford, CT

52

178

117

127

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA

50

253

254

128

Santa Rosa, CA

98

227

206

129

Amarillo, TX

265

108

36

130

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

209

214

10

131

Springfield, MO

161

167

98

132

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

186

203

45

133

Fond du Lac, WI

284

29

135

134

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY

203

89

147

135

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN

140

153

197

136

Richmond, VA

74

197

208

136

Walla Walla, WA

137

188

155

136

Fort Wayne, IN

194

142

83

139

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

125

206

176

140

Knoxville, TN

246

149

26

141

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT

32

216

352

142

Canton-Massillon, OH

301

38

99

143

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA

135

170

214

144

Anchorage, AK

121

225

187

145

Tulsa, OK

292

192

4

146

Evansville, IN

234

41

225

147

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA

218

61

226

148

Casper, WY

259

113

57

148

Wichita Falls, TX

225

228

11

150

Bowling Green, KY

174

127

180

151

Bangor, ME

93

200

286

152

Roanoke, VA

184

123

174

153

Fairbanks, AK

64

174

353

154

Barnstable Town, MA

71

172

349

155

Waco, TX

195

144

114

156

Carbondale-Marion, IL

103

164

314

157

Topeka, KS

247

84

129

158

Sioux City, IA

249

82

138

159

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC

119

270

140

160

Flagstaff, AZ

21

249

362

161

Green Bay, WI

193

77

273

162

Victoria, TX

236

169

44

163

Salisbury, MD

143

221

165

164

Greenville, NC

115

297

342

165

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA

76

248

284

166

Cheyenne, WY

201

145

141

167

Tucson, AZ

124

291

120

168

Altoona, PA

267

98

107

169

Wausau, WI

273

51

204

170

Raleigh, NC

70

224

339

171

Dayton, OH

171

100

296

171

Bend-Redmond, OR

96

219

308

173

Kennewick-Richland, WA

226

175

79

174

Gettysburg, PA

222

71

273

175

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL

63

234

348

176

Missoula, MT

3

294

381

177

Bay City, MI

277

96

108

178

Sheboygan, WI

272

50

303

179

Reno, NV

109

218

229

180

Kankakee, IL

285

87

124

181

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA

144

204

239

181

Janesville-Beloit, WI

256

94

28

183

Rapid City, SD

146

189

248

184

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

75

333

176

185

Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ

261

139

84

186

Midland, TX

251

168

67

187

Staunton-Waynesboro, VA

235

99

191

188

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

163

185

217

189

Greeley, CO

228

137

145

190

St. Joseph, MO

313

129

186

191

Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY

321

147

15

192

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ

172

226

156

193

Greensboro-High Point, NC

158

260

115

194

Cumberland, MD

315

64

133

195

Monroe, LA

200

277

38

196

South Bend-Mishawaka, IN

152

235

198

197

Baton Rouge, LA

131

172

365

198

Colorado Springs, CO

81

340

173

199

Decatur, IL

271

120

116

200

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR

83

212

357

201

Weirton-Steubenville, WV

278

189

47

202

Abilene, TX

192

238

110

203

Winchester, VA

247

140

136

204

Birmingham-Hoover, AL

244

175

96

205

Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL

170

299

77

206

Battle Creek, MI

294

180

48

207

York-Hanover, PA

311

44

228

208

Grand Island, NE

229

256

52

209

San Angelo, TX

187

237

161

209

Johnson City, TN

258

163

109

211

Charleston-North Charleston, SC

47

319

329

212

Terre Haute, IN

240

143

162

213

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA

174

126

318

214

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

50

322

324

215

New Orleans-Metairie, LA

101

326

235

216

Johnstown, PA

254

121

196

217

Houma-Thibodaux, LA

312

293

1

218

Olympia-Tumwater, WA

139

286

193

219

Pocatello, ID

161

154

323

220

Chattanooga, TN

275

205

60

221

Tuscaloosa, AL

210

103

311

222

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

182

254

152

223

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

180

251

167

224

Wenatchee, WA

177

245

178

225

Columbia, SC

111

232

354

226

Tyler, TX

207

229

143

227

Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL

270

261

21

228

Jacksonville, FL

157

315

104

229

St. George, UT

197

199

215

230

Burlington, NC

281

210

57

231

Lancaster, PA

185

59

377

232

Boise City, ID

153

198

307

233

Reading, PA

230

112

283

234

North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL

160

320

100

235

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC

104

345

201

236

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

84

310

309

237

Pittsfield, MA

67

223

378

238

Chico, CA

151

255

256

239

San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

206

247

89

240

Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ

116

200

367

241

Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL

188

271

149

242

Huntington-Ashland, WV

327

124

90

243

Niles-Benton Harbor, MI

240

214

139

244

Longview, TX

357

148

20

245

Idaho Falls, ID

285

133

182

246

Hot Springs, AR

304

252

23

247

Jackson, TN

202

283

160

248

Rome, GA

260

209

137

249

Memphis, TN

207

266

131

250

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

255

229

122

251

Lawton, OK

238

334

19

252

Great Falls, MT

198

208

273

253

Monroe, MI

363

88

72

254

Fort Smith, AR

372

193

3

255

Odessa, TX

334

217

29

256

Winston-Salem, NC

242

257

102

257

Augusta-Richmond County, GA

253

258

95

258

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL

331

150

90

259

Glens Falls, NY

221

117

347

260

Savannah, GA

80

341

315

261

Williamsport, PA

191

146

355

262

Lewiston-Auburn, ME

280

191

166

263

Racine, WI

289

141

231

264

Panama City, FL

233

314

70

265

Jonesboro, AR

281

324

17

266

Jackson, MS

156

306

247

267

Eugene, OR

41

240

351

268

Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL

123

351

232

269

Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH

318

178

104

270

Mansfield, OH

353

157

59

271

Hammond, LA

283

308

33

272

Albuquerque, NM

211

274

184

273

Santa Fe, NM

113

364

235

274

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

199

330

120

275

Beckley, WV

303

280

41

276

Alexandria, LA

338

285

8

277

Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

274

318

46

278

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA

220

261

211

279

Asheville, NC

141

268

346

280

Wilmington, NC

102

273

371

280

Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD

335

184

88

280

Lake Charles, LA

296

331

16

283

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV

205

313

153

284

Killeen-Temple, TX

279

304

62

285

Springfield, OH

351

135

112

286

Montgomery, AL

232

182

313

286

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

78

370

302

288

Spartanburg, SC

308

264

71

289

Carson City, NV

307

317

31

290

Lebanon, PA

302

183

222

291

Clarksville, TN

287

352

11

292

Lima, OH

244

170

317

293

Pine Bluff, AR

317

267

62

294

Vallejo-Fairfield, CA

268

240

210

295

Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA

326

165

191

296

Medford, OR

164

279

326

297

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN

362

276

5

298

Warner Robins, GA

341

288

25

299

Corpus Christi, TX

288

240

187

300

Muskegon, MI

336

195

134

301

Elkhart-Goshen, IN

346

231

73

302

Hattiesburg, MS

148

290

359

303

Kokomo, IN

297

250

162

304

Salem, OR

214

265

291

304

Salinas, CA

164

320

304

306

Lewiston, ID

212

324

218

307

East Stroudsburg, PA

189

309

289

308

Yakima, WA

316

275

93

309

Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL

333

303

36

310

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC

204

311

266

311

Macon, GA

291

278

158

312

Joplin, MO

329

269

81

313

Sherman-Denison, TX

356

305

14

314

Gainesville, GA

309

239

212

315

Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS

216

359

118

316

Florence, SC

320

344

27

317

Jackson, MI

345

207

144

318

New Bern, NC

243

368

68

319

Hanford-Corcoran, CA

328

342

30

320

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

266

343

127

321

Grand Junction, CO

216

300

306

322

Decatur, AL

374

287

7

323

Coeur d'Alene, ID

263

307

256

324

Dover, DE

168

272

376

325

Danville, IL

344

263

129

326

Pueblo, CO

306

259

251

327

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

340

336

54

328

Rockford, IL

325

232

262

329

Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL

231

380

94

330

Dothan, AL

365

283

43

331

Flint, MI

342

240

213

332

Albany, OR

319

246

265

333

Morristown, TN

377

312

6

334

Modesto, CA

347

289

124

335

Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL

295

366

84

336

Redding, CA

322

302

183

337

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

373

296

23

338

Albany, GA

250

350

223

339

Fayetteville, NC

213

374

202

340

Mobile, AL

289

281

304

341

Texarkana, TX

355

334

205

341

Stockton-Lodi, CA

330

292

61

343

Columbus, GA

276

365

146

344

Las Cruces, NM

238

328

321

345

Sumter, SC

263

363

208

345

Gadsden, AL

378

323

13

347

Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ

323

281

267

348

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

299

337

241

349

El Paso, TX

298

349

185

350

The Villages, FL

352

355

49

351

Brunswick, GA

314

375

75

352

Grants Pass, OR

343

298

237

353

Prescott, AZ

300

379

123

354

Valdosta, GA

256

358

287

355

Sebring, FL

324

381

65

356

Farmington, NM

358

348

74

357

Dalton, GA

369

315

102

358

Laredo, TX

305

327

312

359

Goldsboro, NC

339

369

92

360

Port St. Lucie, FL

337

357

141

361

Michigan City-La Porte, IN

364

295

194

362

El Centro, CA

350

366

97

363

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

371

356

51

364

Madera, CA

354

354

128

365

Rocky Mount, NC

366

371

50

366

Jacksonville, NC

293

377

244

367

Merced, CA

360

362

111

368

Punta Gorda, FL

375

347

84

369

Hinesville, GA

332

376

198

370

Yuma, AZ

358

332

268

371

Yuba City, CA

367

353

150

372

Longview, WA

379

301

159

373

Visalia-Porterville, CA

368

339

245

374

Bakersfield, CA

349

329

344

375

Homosassa Springs, FL

376

373

64

376

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

361

345

277

377

Fresno, CA

310

338

374

378

Ocala, FL

380

372

55

379

Cleveland, TN

348

361

300

380

Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ

381

378

35

381

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

370

360

259

The Top (and Bottom) Five Cities for...

Next, let's look at how the cities in our study ranked in important categories -- jobs and affordability -- as well as how cities with a million or more residents stacked up.

Jobs

Many graduates might consider employment rates and income as the most important factors -- maybe even the only factors -- worth considering when deciding where to move. To the left, we have broken out the top and bottom five cities by their “jobs” ranking, a ranking made up of employment rates, earnings and health coverage. We have also shown the general unemployment rate for young adults (ages 20 to 24) for comparison.

Rank

City

Unemployment

1

Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA

7.2%

2

Rochester, MN

5.9%

3

Oshkosh-Neenah, WI

6.3%

4

Bloomington, IL

9.1%

5

Iowa City, IA

5.6%

Rank

City

Unemployment

382

Sebring, FL

25.8%

381

Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL

25.3%

380

Prescott, AZ

21.2%

379

Lake Havasu-Kingman, AZ

22.4%

378

Jacksonville, NC

20.6%

Affordability

The affordability of a city is a very important factor to take into account when considering a move. Having a job in a city, especially for new entrants into the workforce, may not be enough to actually fund living in that city. To the left, we have broken out the best and worst cities by affordability, including the percentage of the employed population that was below the poverty level.

Rank

City

Poverty

1

Houma-Thibodaux, LA

33.3%

2

Lafayette, LA

39.8%

3

Fort Smith, AR

33.4%

4

Tulsa, OK

36.7%

5

Kingsport-Bristol, TN

30.3%

Rank

City

Poverty

382

Missoula, MT

48.8%

381

Iowa City, IA

53.5%

380

Ithaca, NY

33.1%

379

Pittsfield, MA

33.3%

378

Lancaster, PA

40.8%

Big Cities

It is worth noting that the general size of the city and the proportion of residents in the 18-to-24-year-old range does not seem to correlate with overall rankings. Both the best and worst cities have a range of population sizes. However, larger cities are more likely to attract new graduates looking for work, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research; below we have broken out the results of the best and worst cities, by their overall rank, among just those cities with a population of one million or more.

Rank

City

1

Boston-Cambridge, MA

2

San Jose, CA

3

Pittsburgh, PA

4

Baltimore, MD

5

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

Rank

City

42

Riverside-San Bernadino, CA

41

Miami, FL

40

Las Vegas, NV

39

Tampa, FL

38

Memphis, TN

Experts' Take

To vary our coverage of the best cities for new graduates, we put the data aside and sought out two experts for answers to four questions of concern for most students-turned-professionals.

Angela Copeland is a career coach at Copeland Coaching.

1. What factors do you think a graduate should take into account when considering where to live and start their careers?
This can be a tough decision, but just after graduation is the perfect time to select a new city. If there's one particular company you really love, you may have to move to the city where their headquarters is located. Otherwise, you may want to target a city that aligns to your interests and priorities. Make a list of the things that are important to you such as cost of living, average temperature and population. Then compare multiple cities. You can find this information on websites such as Census.gov and Wikipedia. I'm a huge fan of mid-sized cities such as Oklahoma City, Denver, Pittsburgh and Memphis. They often offer a lower cost of living, while giving a young person an opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond (relatively speaking).

2. What are the challenges new graduates are facing when attempting to enter the workforce?
Often, new graduates face the challenge that they have very little real-world work experience. This can make it tough to even apply for some jobs. Often, even junior job postings will list a number of years of experience they require. Try not to pay too much attention to this detail. My first job out of college required a MBA and years of work experience, but I got the job anyway. Many hiring managers are looking for fit more than they're looking for the perfect experience.

3. How can a graduate make themselves stand out to potential employers?
Be professional, and be persistent. I spoke to a recent college graduate who reaches out to three new people per day on LinkedIn. These are people the graduate does not know, but is hoping to have an informational interview with. Very often, people respond positively to him. He has been able to both grow his network and land a job using this unique technique.

4. What are the "hot" industries or areas for graduates right now and what will they be in five years time?
Generally speaking, hot industries are those that are growing, and where there are more positions available than people to do them. The best industries are also often those related to technology, such as data scientist, statistician, computer systems analyst and information security analyst. In five years, the top jobs will continue to be those heavily influenced by technology. Unfortunately, however, technology positions will continue to be outsourced to other countries, so the more you can grow your strengths in strategy and management, the more secure you'll be. Healthcare jobs will also grow as our population continues to age.

Lori Bumgarner is Passion & Career Specialist at paNASH in Nashville.

1. What factors do you think a graduate should take into account when considering where to live and start their careers?
Foremost, where there is job growth and a current strong economy. Right now, "IT city" Nashville is the number one market for job growth and capital investments; its unemployment rate is well below the national average at 3.7%, and companies like Google, Lyft, and Warby Parker are expanding to Nashville. Nashville is especially a good place for college graduates who are creatives. Also, graduates should consider cost of living. Nashville's cost of living is currently under the national average, and its new mayor has plans for the development of more affordable housing.

2. What are the challenges new graduates are facing when attempting to enter the workforce?
The challenges specific to new graduates seeking work in Nashville is the fact that there are 12 four-year colleges in the Metro and Middle Tennessee area, and many graduates want to stay in Nashville, so there is some stiff competition for those candidates applying for entry-level jobs who cannot articulate their unique differentiators.

3. How can a graduate make themselves stand out to potential employers?
Understanding, being confident in and knowing how to articulate what makes them unique. This is something I work with my clients on, helping them discover their uniqueness, how to talk about it and how to brand and market it in a job search.

4. What are the "hot" industries or areas for graduates right now and what will they be in five years time?
In Nashville, the fastest growing industries are management (of companies and enterprises), employment services, accounting/tax prep and tech consulting services. Nashville is experiencing a tech boom which is expecting to increase in growth over the next five years. Population-wise, Nashville is currently at 1.83 million people with an expected growth to two million by 2025 and three million by 2040.

Methodology

To determine the best cities for graduates, we looked at 27 factors from five reliable sources. These factors were grouped into three general categories: jobs, affordability and lifestyle. These categories were equally weighted in the final analysis.

The jobs category takes into account employment factors -- unemployment rates both for the population with college degrees and in comparison to the general population -- as well as the expected income increase from having a degree, and finally important employment benefits such as healthcare. These factors all speak to the availability of good employment in a city for graduates and the benefit of being a graduate in that city.

The affordability category includes nine factors such as rent, levels of student debt, transit, food, utilities and property costs, as well as the poverty level for graduates. These factors combine to indicate which cities may be more affordable for entry-level job participants. Some factors look similar -- such as level of student debt and percentage of graduates with student debt -- but in fact measure different thing; for example, the cost of attending college in that state versus the availability of funding.

The final category -- lifestyle -- looks at amenities (entertainment, further education institutions, recreational establishments) together with the general makeup of the population, educational levels and transit habits. This last category is the most subjective of the three as some graduates may value certain lifestyles more than others; here we have prioritized choice, recreation and the proportion of single, well-educated graduates.

There were some factors that we would have liked to include in this analysis but were unable to find reliable or comprehensive data for. Information on the longevity and stability of employment for new graduates was not available, but is an important consideration for a graduate looking to move to a new city for long-term career reasons. Similarly, geographical data on the number and variety of entry-level work programs designed for graduates was not available.

Below, we break down the statistics we used and their point of origin. Those items marked with an asterisk used state data rather than city data. Click onto the source name on the right to view the data as we originally found it.

Jobs

Percentage Increase in Median Earnings for Having a Bachelor's Degree (vs. No Degree) / U.S. Census Bureau

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